Umbrella-frame



(No Model.)

J. H. SPRAGUE. UMBRELLA FRAME.

Patented June 3 ameml oz m w 5 i .h w Mm THE NORRIS PETERS 00., moro'u'mo WASHWGTON, n. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES H. SPRAGUE, OF NORWALK, OHIO.

UMBRELLA-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,160, dated June 3, 1890.

' Application filed December 6,1889. Serial No 332,842- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Means H. SPRAGUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwalk, in the county of Huron and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Umbrella-Frame, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in umbrella-frames.

The object of the present invention is to improve and simplify the connection between the ribs and the braces and the ribs and the hubs, and enable the parts when broken to be connected again as securely as they were before.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rib and brace connected in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a portion of a rib, partly broken away to show the ends of the wire forming the eye. Fig. 3 is a similar View of the end of the brace. Fig. t is a detail perspective view of the wire eye or loop of the rib. Fig. 5 is a similar View of the eye or loop of the brace.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a rib of an umbrella-frame of the ordinary construction, being U-shaped in cross-section and provided with a longitudinal groove 2, which receives the ends 3 of a wire 4 that is secured in the longitudinal groove by soldering, cold-pressing, welding, or the like. The wire 4 is provided at a point intermediate of its ends 3 with a loop or eye 5, which is formed by bending the wire 4, and which is designed to receive the end of a brace 6. The brace 6 is U-shaped in cross-section and provided with a longitudinal groove 7, and is constructed in the usual manner and is provided at its end 8 with an eye or loop 9, which is partially opened to allow it to be inserted and engaged in the loop or eye 5 of the rib, and is then closed after insertion, thereby securing the parts together. The eye or loop 9 of the brace is constructed at the end of a piece of wire 10, whose body portion is inserted and secured in the longitudinal groove 7 of the brace by soldering, cold-pressing, welding, or the like, similar to the wire 4 of the rib 1.

Should the parts become worn or broken, the wires 4 and 10 can be readily removed and replaced by new ones at the expense of but little labor and at a very small cost.

The ends of the rib and brace that are attached to the hub may be provided with wire eyes, if desired; but I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings my invention applied to an ordinary umbrella rib and brace.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings it will be readily seen that the connection between the umbrella rib and brace is simple and inexpensive in construction, and the parts may readily be replaced when worn, and the umbrella-frame is enabled to fold more compactly together and the ribs present a smoother surface to the cover and do not wear the latter at the points where the braces are secured to them.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- The combination of the rib having a longitudinal groove, the wire at, provided at a point intermediate of its ends with a loop or eye 5 and having the ends fitted in the groove and secured therein, the brace having a longitudinal groove, and the wire 10, having an eye or loop 9 formed at its end and engaging the eye or loop 5, the body of the wire 10 being fitted and secured in the longitudinal groove of the brace at the end thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. SPRAGUE. Witnesses:

S. E. CRAWFORD, HENRY S. MITCHELL. 

